IMPORTANT NOTICE: After two months in operation the Sports Museum of L.A. has closed, with no reopening date scheduled at this time.

The most spectacular collection of baseball, Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers memorabilia and collectibles anywhere will re-open to the public, Saturday, July 16, at the incomparable Sports Museum of Los Angeles (SMLA), which will be open weekends only.

Housed in 20,000 square feet, SMLA’s “The Dodgers Collection” contains 26 galleries and thousands of prized pieces valued in the millions of dollars, all collected during a 30-year period by SMLA owner Gary Cypres. Items featured span from the 19th to the 21st centuries, including a comprehensive display of vintage baseball cards highlighted by a rare Honus Wagner card.

Gary Cypres’ collection includes this 1909 Honus Wagner T206 baseball card regarded as the most valuable baseball card in the world.
(Wikipedia photo)

“We are excited to be able to give Dodgers fans and sports fans in general the opportunity to view up close these priceless, one-of-a-kind objects,” Cypres said. “The items in the Sports Museum of Los Angeles bridge the history of the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles and it has been a labor of love to acquire them and make them available to the generations of sports fans in Southern California.”

Among the items featured in “The Dodger Collection” are:

• T206 Honus Wagner trading card – the Holy Grail among collectors
• Gallery dedicated to Negro Leagues and Jackie Robinson, including his game-worn jersey and bat
• Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe MVP and Cy Young awards
• Willie Mays and Willie McCovey game-worn jerseys
• Handful of dirt and first ball thrown out on opening of Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field in 1913
• Tickets and programs from all World Series matching the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees
• Johnny Podres’ 1955 World Series MVP trophy
• Game-worn jerseys of New York Yankees stars Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford
• Sign hung by the demolition company that leveled Ebbets Field, the fabled Brooklyn Dodgers ballpark, in 1960
• A Dodgers 1981 World Series trophy
• Don Drysdale collection from high school days in Van Nuys through Brooklyn and L.A. Dodgers
• Dodgers game-worn jerseys include those from the 1955 Boys of Summer team to the present
• Gold Gloves and MVP awards of Dodger greats including Garvey, Hodges, Parker and Roseboro
• World Series trophies from 1970-2000
• Historic bats, gloves and uniforms

Don Newcombe’s 1956 Cy Young award, 1956 Most Valuable Player award and 1949 Rookie of the Year award are among the many great memorabilia items included in “The Dodgers Collection.”
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

A football exhibition featuring a singular Los Angeles Rams collection is planned for the fall at the Sports Museum of Los Angeles. The baseball and Dodgers Collection will continue at that time as a permanent exhibit.

Sports Museum of Los Angeles’ collection has captured the attention of city and sports leaders.

Former Dodgers’ owner Peter O’Malley: “It’s the best sports museum in the world.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti: “This is the high temple of sports. We have many wonderful museums in Los Angeles and the Sports Museum of Los Angeles occupies a place among the best. It is a truly remarkable, one-of-a-kind facility that should be experienced by all Angelenos and anyone visiting our great city.”

L.A. County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas: “The Sports Museum of Los Angeles is one of the best-kept secrets in all of Southern California. It’s easy to access. It’s enjoyable and user-friendly to young and old alike. The more people that get a chance to experience this, the better they will be.”

Outgoing L.A. County Supervisor Mike Antonovich: “This museum is phenomenal. Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, I was a fan of the Angels in the old Pacific Coast League before the Dodgers moved here from Brooklyn. This is like back to the future for me and a chance to re-live all the great players and great moments. I represent the district in the Pasadena area where Jackie Robinson’s family is from and it was moving to see the wonderful display honoring his accomplishments. The museum is oriented to the fan. I highly recommend it and look forward to coming back again with my family.”

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa: “It’s awesome. Fantastic! Unbelievable! That one person could collect all this memorabilia is incomprehensible. It’s a great asset to the city of Los Angeles.”

Former Dodgers pitching great and current broadcaster Orel Hershiser:   “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s spectacular. Anyone who loves the Dodgers needs to see it. There’s so much to take in. I can’t wait to go back.”

Former Dodger outfielder Al Ferrara: “This is one of my favorite, favorite spots. Gary Cypres has a great collection here. Every time I pull up in my car, I get very excited. I was born and raised in Brooklyn and all the Brooklyn Dodgers’ things here bring back all my childhood memories. And I got to play here (Los Angeles) in the ‘60s with the Dodgers. He has all that stuff, too. So coming here is like going home.”

Former Dodger infielder Bill Russell: “There’s so much to see here; every time you come you see something you missed the previous time. It’s phenomenal. When I see the old baseball gloves, I’m amazed at how they caught the ball. The history takes you back to when baseball started and brings you to the present. It’s just a thrill to come here and relive the game.”

Former Dodger and two-time National League batting champion Tommy Davis: “Nothing like it anywhere else. It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen. There’s so much information on the history of baseball and all the great players. It would take a week to view it all.”

Former Dodger outfielder Ken Landreaux: “I’ve never seen so much memorabilia, past to present. Nobody else has anything like it. It’s an awesome facility.”

Conveniently located at Main St. and Washington Blvd., just south of downtown Los Angeles and just 1.2 miles from STAPLES Center and LA LIVE, SMLA is open to the general public only on weekends from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., but is accessible daily for tours and private events. Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and over and students with ID, and $9 for children ages 5-12. On-site parking is $8. For further information, visit sportsmuseumla.com or call 888-540-8223.

(Article courtesy of bzapr.com)

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: After two months in operation the Sports Museum of L.A. has closed, with no reopening date scheduled at this time.